There are plenty of great athletes that have made their claim to fame through basketball but only a handful of them are considered to be legendary players. The following men have truly earned their spot among the greatest basketball players in history.

1. Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain

Any discussion about legendary basketball legends players will likely include Wilt Chamberlain because he was a true trailblazer that paved the way for NBA stars today. Due to college restrictions, he was part of the infamous Harlem Globetrotters for a year before beginning his career in the NBA. He stood over seven feet tall and dominated the NBA when he was in his prime. He marked his place in history as the only player to score 100 points in a single game. He was also the first person to ever score 30,000 points in the NBA.

2. Larry Bird

Larry Bird led his team to three NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVP honors. He was the sixth overall draft pick to the Boston Celtics in 1978 and many fans consider him to be the greatest Celtic of all time. According to ESPN, he played alongside Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson in the 1992 Olympics Dream Team and brought home the gold medal for the United States of America. He became known as Larry Legend which definitely earns him a spot among these legendary players in basketball history.

3. Michael Jordan

As a child, Michael Jordan wanted to follow in his fathers’ footsteps and become a baseball player but his future turned out to be embedded in basketball. As a rookie in the NBA, he made a quick impact on the league and managed to impress his peers with his lavish style of play while earning their respect and admiration. From his iconic performance in the 1988 Slam Dunk Competition to his numerous victories in NBA final championships, Micheal Jordan has truly done it all. Many people consider Michael Jordan to be the greatest of all time and continues to be an inspiration to all who love the sport.